Machine for handling brush material



May 28, 19219. 5 CLEAVES 1,714,547

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed June 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet l May 28, 1929. G. c. CLEAVES MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed June 2 1924 8 She ets-Sheet for 06; lea ,i loz zn May 28, 1929. G. c. CLEAVES' MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL 8 Sheets$heef Filed June 2 1924 ll wae'tor "6'00!" 6067656067 May 28, 1929. G. c. CLEAVES MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATER IAL I Filed Junev2'7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet In fr/l May '28, 1929. 5, c, CLEAVES 1,714,547

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed June 2'7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 28, 1929. G. c. CLEAVES MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed June 27, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet y 1929. G. c. CLEAVES MACHINE FQR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed June 2'7, 1924 8 Sheets-Sheet inventor May 28, 1929. G. C. cLEAvES MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRUSH MATERIAL Filed Jur ze 2'7,- 1924 8 Sheets-Shet Inventor Gig -ye 6676051261? Patented May 28, 1929.

warren "STATES than? rarest caries.

GEORGE C. CLEAVES, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO WILLIAM: H. DOBLE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR HANDLING Bauer; MATERIAL.

Application filed June 27, 1924. Serial No. 722,706.

This invention relates to a machine for handling brush material.

To avoid the ob ect1ons to existing practice, I have devised my present method and terialto' be put in eachbunch. V'Vith my method, the operative simply withdraws from its confining strands with one hand a preformed pitched or not p tched butt-ed bunch, and dlps, bmdsand inserts it in the brush block, the'other hand being free to handle the brush block, thus eliminating the necessity of holding a supply bundle of loose brush material in the same hand withthe brush block and of attempting to pick out from the supply bundlesuccessive bunches of uniform size. The work may therefore be entrusted to less skilled operatives, and both the brush manufacturer andthe buyer may be certain that the individual brush bunch will all be of uniform size, and hence all brushes will be of uniform construction. Production is thus increased, production costs reduced, and wastage eliminated. Packaging, shipment and sales are simplified in thatthe bunches may be furnished as a web of definite length at a definite price per unit of lineal measure, and in a form well adapted for packaging, shipment, storage and handling by the operatives at the work table.

Incidentally, these lengths or webs of uniform bunches may be used in the manufacture of rotary brushes of the type shown in my Patent 1,663,5r8 l, granted March 27, 1928.

Moreover, the uniform grouping of bunches secured by my-method makes possible the use 7 of a brush block having rows of continuous slots therein instead of the usual series of drilled holes, such slots being far more easily and quickly made than are'the individual drilled holes. Also, the uniform bunching lends itself particularly to the manufacture of the twisted. wire brush in which the bunches or tufts of brush materialare selected and laid loosely between a doubled wire, belng thereafter clamped by twisting the wire upon itself.

F or the practice of my method and as a complementary part thereof, 1 have devised a machine for accurately and automatically forming the loose brush material into individualbunches of predetermined uniform size and for loosely binding said bunches in a continuous web.

According to this phase of my invention, I provide a stock feedway along which the brush material is automatically fed. toan intermittently operating bunch-forming or selecting mechanism which forms the stock into successive bunches or group's of predetermined uniform size, said bunches afterwards being accuratelybutted so that their ends are even. {As each bunch is formed, it

is graspedby a gripper operating in timed relation to the bunch-forming mechanism and carried therebyto a position betweentwo sets of binding strands which are then spread open and between which it is depos-f ited as the gripper opens to releasethe bunch, whereupon the gripper returns to the bunchforming mechanism to take up the next bunch. At the same time the sets of binding strands are then crossed upon each other to firmly but detachably confine the bunch there between, and such bunch is fed out of the machine upon the next operating cycle thereof.

The manner of practicingmy method, to-

gether with a machine which has been found satisfactory. in actual use, is described and illustrated in the accompanying specification and drawings, and the characteristic features of novelty are particularly pointed out In the appended claims. specification and drawings .like reference characters are correspondingly applied, and

in the drawings Throughout the Fig. 1. is. afront. elevation of a machine for the practice of my invention.-

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation as viewed from the right of F ig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of Fig.2. 7 Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section partic illustrating the bunch-forming mechanism. 7; Fig; t is a detail view of the presser and slicer bars ofthe 'bunchfor'ming mechanism,

which bars separate from the stock successive ularly ea l bundles or bunches of predetermined size for transfer to the binding strands by the gripper mechanism.

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail Views of the mechanism for crossing and uncrossing the binding strands, Fig. 5 showing the threads open or uncrossed and Fig. 6 showingthem closed or crossed.

Fig. ff is a front view of the oppositely reciprocating strand guides which carry the binding strands.

Figs. 7, 8 and-9 are detail views showing the successive positions of the bundle pusher mechanism which pushes each bundle placed in front of it by the gripper mechanism out of the machine after it has been bound by the binding strands.

v Fig. 10 isa partial plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a partial side elevationindicating in dotted lines certain positions of the gripper in its movements.

Fig. 12 is an elevation as viewed from the left of Fig. 1 and particularly showing the mechanism which causes the gripper bar. to move laterally from the stock feed way over to the binding strands.

Fig. 13 is av view corresponding to Fig. 11 and showing the gripper bar as having been moved over to the binding strands and opened to deposit its bundle between said strands.

Fig. 13 is a front view'of Fig. 13.

Fig. let is a view corresponding to Fig. 11

and showing the gripper bar as having been opened and moved back from the bunch-binding mechanism to grip the next bunch.

' Figzlt is a fragmentary front elevation of Fig. 14.

Figs. 15, 15" are detail views of the gripper fingers and latch mechanism therefor.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view illustrating the upward position of the separator bar.

Fig. 17 is a similar view with separator bar down. Fig. 18 is a plan view ofvweb supporting table.

Fig. 19 is a section on the line 19-19 of Figs. 20 and 21 are front views showing vibrator or bunch evener in extreme positions.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary View illustrating bunch evening method. v

Fig. 22 isa fragmentary plan view of vibrator and web supporting table as attachedto the machine.

Fig. 23 is a section at 2323 of Fig. 1, illustrating the feedway and adjustable guiding plates.

. Fig. 24: is a fragmentary viewof a web of completed bunchesor groups.

Fig. 25is a similar view of a modified form of web. I

Fig. 26 shows a solid brush block having slots instead of drilled holes.

Fig. 27 shows the slots of the brush block of Fig. 26 filled with sections of individual bunches of brush material, said sections being cut from the continuous web of bunches shown in Fig. 25 and inserted as strip units in said slots.

Fig. 28 shows a laminated brush made up of a plurality of spaced strips ofwood or the like with the spaces between said strips filled with bunch sectionsthe same as shown in Fig. 27.

Fig. 29 diagrammatically illustrates the method of handling the web shown in Fig. 2'4.

Ihave indicated at 1 the supporting legs and at 2 the bed of the framework of a machine for practicing my method, Extending longitudinally of the bed 2 adjacent one edge thereof is a stock feedway 3 within which the brush material M is loosely laid transversely thereof for feeding movement from the rear towards the front of the machine.

The feedway 3 includes an upper and a lower pair of closely spaced rails 4 in Fig. 23 between which the brush material M is laid. The lower pair of rails 4 is fastened to and supported by a vertical strip arising from the bed 2] Disposed on either side of the rails 4 and adjustably mounted on a pair of spaced tie rods 6 connecting said rails is a pair of guide strips 5 and 5 against which the ends of the brush material abut. Between the guide strip 5 and the fixed strip 4 is a vertical plate 7 constituting a bottom supporting rail for the brush material M and a support for the tie rods 6. These guide'strips 5 and 5 are adjustable laterally relative to the rails 4, and are held spaced from the strips 4 and 7 by filler sleeves 6 for the accommodation of brush material of different lengths.

The brush material is automatically fed forwardly of the machine by a feed slide 8 mounted'in a channeled guide 9 which embraces a guide bar 10 overlying the strips 1 and carried by suitable brackets 11 rising from the bed 2 of the machine. The lower end of the slide 8 lies in the space separating and is guided between the'strips 1,,being constantly drawn forwardly by a, gravity feed, which as here shown; consists of a cable 12 fastened at one end to the guide9 and weighted at its other end as indicated at 13 (Fig. 4) In order to permit the brush material to be replenished while the machine is running, the

upper end of the feed slide 8 is formed as a handle 8 which may be grasped and raised to Clear the feeding end of the slide from the brush material, whereupon the slide may be bunches or groups K of brush material of predetermined uniform size from the stock within the feedway and holding such bunch separated from the remainder of the stock for subsequent transfer to the flexible binding strands by the bunch transfer mechanism. The bunch-forming mechanism, shown in detail in Figs. 4, 4 and 17, is mounted on a bracket 14 rising vertically from the bed of the machine at the delivery end of the stock feedway, and formed as a bearing for a hollow sliding sleeve 15 within which is independently slidable a rod 16. The sleeve 15 operates a vertically reciprocable presser bar 17 and the rod 16 operates a similarly movable slicer bar 18, the presser bar lZ and slicer 18 working in timed relation to each other in a guide 19 carried by the bracket 14.

On its down stroke, the presser bar first presses against the forward end of the body of brush material in the feedway 3 and then This bar is formed at its lower end pauses. with a rearwardly beveled surface 17 which as said bar continues its .lown stroke forces the stock beneath it into a compact mass so that when, the slicer bar descends, the mass thus confined will be separated by the slicer bar from the rest of the brush material in the feedway and will lie in said feedway as a definitely separated bunch or group of brush material of predetermined size and wholly distinct and apart from the remainder of the stock in the feedway. Hence, each operation of the presser and slicer bars forms a bunch or group of predetermined size.

' Disposed longitudinally of the machine is a crowding latch 103 pivotally mounted as at 104 and having at its free end a pressure point 105. This point is raised an d dropped through the contact and release ofa spring compressed hook 2O carried by the slicer 18, with a catch 106 vertically disposed from the crowding latch 103. ,The hook 20 is i 'disen 'aged b contact of the cam 20 with the point 1? carried by the pressure bar, and all in properly timed relation to themovements of'the pressure bar and slicer to give a more uniform compactness of the pack against the pressure bar and a greater density of the sliced-off bunch. It also acts to hold stock adjacent the pressure bar in place when the gravity bar S has been retracter to add'stock to the feed pack. I

In order to insure that none of the stock'in rear of the definitely separated bunch will interfere therewith, I provide a separator bar 20 which is carried by and fast to the top of the slicer 18, and having on its inner face a centrally disposed double-faced cam 21, which through its contact with a cam pin 21,

fast on the pressure bar, is worked by the alternate movements of the slicer and pressure bars so as to have not only its upward and downward movements, but an inward and outward spring movement, all in properly timed relation to entirely separate the bunch K from the pack M to insure the transfer of the bunch to the gripper in such a manner as not to include any of the feeding pack.

The presser and slicer bars are operated in timed relation to each other from the main cam shaft 22 of the machine. This shaft is journaled transversely beneath the bed 2 in suitable bearings depending therefrom and is provided at one end with a pulley 23 adapted to be belted to a suitable power source and at its other end with a hand wheel 24. Fast on the cam shaft 22 is a pair of cam discs 25 and t 26. The cam disc 25 operates the presser bar and the cam disc 26 operates the slicer bar,

each disc having a. suitable cam path generated therein within which ride cam rolls 2? and 28, carried respectively, by cam levers 29 and 30, both of said levers being fulcrumed ona suitable bearing 31 depending. from the under it is deposited when the strands are open, as

shown in Fig. 5, for subsequent binding there between when said strands are crossed, as shown in Fig. 6. This gripper mechanism consists of a gripper arm 34 which is fulcrumed on a rock shaft 35 (Fig.11) journaled in a sleeve 36 mounted in a bearing 37 at the forward end of the frame. The gripper arm has a rocking motion from front to rear towards and away from the delivery end of the stock feedwav and has a lateral sliding motion transversely ofthe machine to transfer the'bunch or group gripped thereby from the stock feedway to the binding strands. The rocking motion is transmitted to the gripper by a cam path 38 on the same cam disc 25 which operates the presser bar. This cam path engages a roll 39 on a cam lever 40 which is fulcrumed at 41 to the bed Fast to the lever 40 is a connecting rod 43 which is connected at its,

of the machine.

forward end to a rocker arm 44 on thesleeve 36, said arm also having a pair of spaced guide pins 44 on which the gripper arm is guided duringitslateral travel. l

The lateral sliding motion of the gripper arm is imparted thereto by a cam 45 on the far end of the cam shaft 22 (see Figs. 10'and 12). This cam through a cam roll 46 operates a rocker lever 47 which 1s fulcrumed at 48 in a suitable bearing dependlng from the side of the machine and is forked at its free end at 49 to straddle the, collar 3 fast onthe shaft 35 to transversely operate lever 34 along the shaft '35, as shown in dot'anddash, Fig. 10, This moves the lever 34'transverse- 1y after it has pivotally swung forward from delivery end of the stock teedway 3, to the a laterally projecting stud 55 which consti- 'which is pivoted between its ends .tutes a catch for a latch 56 which is pivoted at 57 and is counter-weighted by the end 59 extending beyond the gripper jaws.

Pivoted to the stud beyond its latching face is a pair of links 51 which are connected to the free ends of the gripper fingers beyond their pivots so to open and close said fingers according to the position of the latch.

The slide 5 1 is operated by a yoke 60 (Figs. 11. 13 and 1a) which is pivoted between its ends at 61 to the gripper arm and is connected at 62 to the upper end of a vertically slid-' ing actuating rod (58, which is spring-tensioned as indicated at 6 1 and at its lower end is guided at 64 in a guide formed on the gripper arm. The lower end or" the rod 63 beyond said guide 64 is exposedtor actuation by one end of a double-ended dog 65 at 66 to the lower end of the gripper arm. The opposite end of said dog 65 is disposed for actuation by a cam surface 67 carried by the pcriphery of the cam disc 38 to open the gripper fingers.

As the gripper arm swings towards the delivery end of the stock teedway to take the bunch or group K which is being separated from the mass of brush material, the gripper undertace ot the tail of the latch.

snaps open the latch and the gripper fingers fingers are opened and the gripper latch is on. When the bundle is fully separated, the latch is tripped to permit the gripper fingers to close and grip the bunch. This is efiected automatically by a roll 68 (Fig l l) on the cam lever 69 contacting or riding over a cam 25 of the cam disc 25. The lever 69 is fulcrumed at 70 to the bed of the machine and contacts at its free end with a plungerpin 7 the bed'ot the machine upwarr ly againstfihe 1.11s

1 close and remain closed while the gripper arm swings towards the front of themachine and is carried laterally over to the 'ing rod 63 binding strands S. )Vhen the bunch or group K is placed between said strands and the strands crossed part way about the bundle to grip it, the gripper fingers areautomaticallyopened by contact of the lug 67 on the cam disc 25 with the adjacent end of the double-ended dog 65, such contact rocking said dog on its pivot and raising the actuatagainst the tension of its spring 64 toopen the gripper (seeFig. 13). The

slidable vertically. through latch now snaps on to hold the gripper fingers open whlle the gripper arm is returning through its lateral motlon and again swings towards the stock feedway.

The binding strands S run from the rear to the front of the machine over the bed thereof. As here shown, there are two superposed sets oi these strands, there being three The strands may be either twine, thread,

wire or any other suitable material and are fed forwardly at each operation of the machine to furnish a sufiicient length to bind each bunch or knot K as it is transferred thereto by the gripper arm. I

As each bunch or group K is deposited by thegrippers at S, best illustrated in Figs. 20 and 22, the ends ot'the brush material of the group are apt not to be in alinement as indicatedat s. I To overcome this I have provided a vibrating plate 120 mounted on the front of the machine as at 120. When the pusher arm 7 5 descends through the spring plate 91, as at it pushes the group forward and then rises. The pusher then advances forward as at 75 and then retreats to an upward position, as shown in Figs. 9 to 21. When the pusher retreats the serrated surface 7 5 of the pusher 75 travels up over the turned lip 120 causing a prolonged vibration of the plate 120 sufficient to even up the ends of the group K.

The feed of the strands is efi ected by the bunch pusher 7 5 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) mounted on the head H of the machine adjacent the point at which tne gripper delivers the bunch to the strands. The'pusher 75 is tulcrumed at 76 to a slide 7? which is guided vertically ously placed between the binding strands I and had beenpushed forwardly onto the web receiving table 80 of the machine on the preceding downward and forward stroke of said pusher. I c i The swinging movement of the bunch pusher is effected by a cam disc 81 on the main cam shaft 22 having a cam path 81 withinwhich operates a cam roll 82 on a cam lever 83 which is connected at .84 to one arm of a bell crank lever 85 fulcrumed upon the head of the machine. The other arm of the bell crank lever is connected at 86 to the bunch pusher 77 this connection being so constructed as to allow the back and forth swinging movement of the bunch pusher.

The vertical reciprocation of the slide 77 is effected by a cam path 87 formed on the cam disc 87 and a cam roll 87 2 on a connecting rod 88 (Fig. 9). The rod 88operates a cam lever 88 which is fulcrumed at 88 to the head H and is connected at 89 to a link 90 fastened to the bunch pusher slide 7 7 The lower end of the bunch pusher is forked to straddle the binding strands and the bunch or group K is supported on a slotted spring plate 91 fast at one end to the web receiving table 80 and free at its other end to move down with the binding strands, as said strands are spread open to receive the bundle.

The superposed sets of binding strands S are carried forwardly through the head of the machine in oppositely reciprocating strand guides 92 (see 5) which, as shown, are arranged in three and two relation working alternately. The strand guides 92 are mounted on slides 93 which work in vertical slideways 94: formed in the head of the machine, and operate in timed relation to the gripper arm and bunch pusher to cross the binding strands. The slideways 94 are arranged one in advance of the other so that the strand guides may pass by each other, the

strand guides of each set being spaced apart binding strands consists of a stud 95 .j'ournaled beneath the table 2 in rear of the main cam shaft and driven therefrom at half speed in any suitable manner, as by the sprocket and chain drive 96 shown in 5. Fastened to the hub of the sprocket on said stud 95 is a cam 96 operating between a pair of cam rol s 97 on a connecting rod 98 which is slotted at its rear as indicated at 99 (Figs. 5 and 6) so that it may slide relative to the stud 95 as the cam rotates. At its forward end, the connecting rod 98 is connected at 98 with one of a pair of bell crank levers 100 which are fulcrumed above and below the bed of the machine as indicated at 100, and are connected to the slides 93 for the strand guides 92 to move them in unison towards and away from each other and thereby crossing the binding strands S.

The web W of continuously connected bound bunches or groups is drawn forwardly of the machine around a reel 101 to which one end thereof is connected. The reel is driven preferably from the main cam shaft 22 of the machine by a slip belt 102, as appears in Figs. 2 and 8. This produces the web shown in detail in'Fig. 241-, wherein the bundles K are all of the same stock.

The'modified form of web is shown in Fig. 25, wherein the bundles K at one side of'the web are of different stock from those at the other-side of the web.

In Fig, 26, I have shown a solid brush block B which is longitudinally slotted as indicated at B. The slots B are filled with sections L (Fig. 27) of connected bristle bunches which are cut in the desired lengths from the continuous web W of individual v bunches K shown in Fig. 25. This construction avoids the necessity. of drilling spaced o 1 holes in the brush b ock and filling each hole with an individual bunch K, as is the usual practice.

In Fig. 28 I have shown a still further modification wherein the brush block is made up of a series of spaced strips or laminae B which are fastened to each other in any suit.- able manner to form a unit, the spaces B between said strips being filled with unitary sections L of bristle bunches cut from the web WV of Fig. 2 1 in the same manner as shown in' Fig. 27.

In both forms of brushes, the glue or pitch coating which is applied to the butt ends of the bunches K is sufficient to retain the units L intheir slots 13 or spaces B and in the form of brush shown in Fig. 28, this coating also assists to fasten together the strips B? forming the body of the brush. If desired, however, these strips may be nailedtogether as indicated at B Fig. 28. i

I have indicated diagrammatically in Fig.

29 the method of handling the web produced by my machine. teferring to the figure the numeral 200, designates the operators work table, 'MOlllliQCl upon this table is a cylinder 201 over which is coiled the continuous web W of bristle bunches. The operator draws the free end of the web past an inclined supporting plate 202 which acts to hold the" bunches in a substantially upright position so that they may be readily withdrawn from their binding strands S, their butt ends dipped in the glue or pitch pot 203, and bound with the permanent binding strings 204i, and inserted in the holes of the brush block.

here a brush'of the type shown in Fig. 27 or Fig. 28 is being built up, the web Wis severed into sections L of the desired length by means of the scissors 205, and the butt ends of the bunches with their binding strands S still holding them in their individual bunch dividual bunch of the brush material has been separated from the brush stock it is next gripped by a gripping mechanism including gripping lingers 51 mounted upon a gripping arm 34, the latter being oscillated by connections from a cam as above described to be moved into a position where the gripping fingers are opened to engage the separated bunch, then closed, and thereafter moved 7 with the bunch into a position Where the end of the bunch may be inserted between the shed of warp or binding strands S, after which the warp strands are crossed by the operation of the vertically movable slides 93, as above described, to weave the particular bunch into the web. The movement of the strands is effected by a bunch pusher 7 5 so that during the operation of the machine the Woven web gradually is fed out upon the table 80 where it may be wound up on the reel 101.

l/Vhat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a

feeder for a supply of brush material, a sepsupply individual bunches, means timed with the separator for weaving a continuous stranded warping about sa1d formed bunches to bind said bunches into a continuousv web,

and meansfortransferring each bunch as it is separated from sa1d separating mechanism to said binding strands.

8. In a machine of the class described, a

a means for depositing each bunch as it is formed between said strands while said strands are open, and means for subsequently crossing said strands upon each other about the formed bunch to bind said bunch into a continuous web with preceding bound bunches.

4;. In a machine of the class described, a

. feeder for a supply of brush material, a separator for successively separating from said supply individual bunches, means for supporting two sets of superposed binding strands, a means for depositing each bunch as it is formed between said strands while said strands are open, means for subsequently crossing said strands upon each other about the formed bunch to firmly bind said bunch into a continuous web with preceding bunches, and a bunch pusher operating in rear of each formed bunch to eject the formed bunch from the machine, the motion of said pusher effecting the feed of said binding strands.

5. In a machine of the class described, a feeder for a supply of brush material, a separator for successively separating from said supply individual bunches, means for supporting two sets of superposed binding strands, a gripper for transferring each bunch as it is formed from said separator to said bindingstrands while said strands are open, means for subsequently crossing said strands upon each other about the formed bunch to bind said bunch into continuous web with preceding bunches, and means to open and close said gripper in timed relation to the operation of said separator and strand crossing means. v

6. In a machine of the class described, a feeder for a supply of brush material, a-separator operating past said. feeder to succes sively remove therefrom individual bunches, means for supporting binding strands, means for alternately crossing and uncrossing said strands, and means for successively transferring the formed bunches from said separator to said binding strands when said strands are uncrossed for binding therebetween when said strands are crossed upon each other.

7 .In a machine of the class described, a feeder for a supply of brush material, a separator operating in adirection transverse to the direction of stock feed tosuccessively remove therefrom individual bunches, means for supporting binding strands, means for alternately crossing and uncrossing said strands, means for successively transferring the formed bunches from said separator to said binding strands when said strands are uncrossed for binding therebetween when said strands are crossed upon each other, and a bunch pusher operating in rear of each bound bunch to progressively eject said bunch from the machine.

8. In a machine of the class described, a feeder for a supply of brush material, a separator operating in a direction transverse t0 the direction of stock feed to successively remove therefrom individual bunches, means for supporting binding strands, means for alternately crossing and uncrossing said strands, means for successively transferring the. formed bunches from said separatorto said binding strands when said strands are uncrossed for binding therebetween when said strands are crossed upon each other, and a bunch pusher operating in rear of each bound bunch to progressively eject said bunch from the machine, the ejecting motion of said bunch pusher at each operation thereof feeding the binding strands a distance of one bunch length.

9. In a machine of the class described, a stock feedway for the brush material, an automatic feeder for advancing said material along said feedway, and intermittently operating bunch-forming mechanism movable across said feedway to separate the brush material into successive individual bunches, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be successively placed while said strands are uncrossed, a gripper arm having jaws and adapted to transfer the formed bunches to the binding strands, an automatic latch for opening and closing the gripper jaws, a latch release mechanism operating in timed relation to the movement of the gripper arm, means for automatically crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands to firmly bind each bunch therebetween into a continuous web with preceding bunches.

10.1n a machine of the class described, a stock feedway for the brush material, an automatic feeder for advancing said. material along said feedway, an intermittently operating bunch forming mechanism movable across said feedway to separate the brush material into successive individual bunches, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be successively placed while said strands are uncrossed, a gripper arm having jaws and adapted to transfer the formed bunches to the binding strands, an automatic latch for opening and closing the gripper jaws, a latch release mechanism operating in timed relation to the movement of the gripper arm, means for automatically crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands to firmly but detachably bind each bunch therebetween into a continuous web withpreceding bunches, and a bunch pusher operating at the point of delivery of the bunch to the binding strands for automatically ejecting the bound bunch from the machine, said pusher on its ejecting stroke feeding the binding strands forwardly a distance sufliclent to provide a binding length for the next bunch.

11. In a machine of the class described, a stock feedway for the brush material, an automatic feeder for advancing said material along'said feedway, an intermittently operating bunch forming mechanism efiective at the delivery end of said feedwayto separate the brush material into successive individual bunches, and comprising vertically reciprocable presser and slicer bars, the presser bar formed at its lower end to enclose amass of stock in said feedway for subsequent separation from the rest of the brush material inthe feedway by the slicer bar, means for supporting a stranded warping between which the formed bunches are adapted to be successively placed, and means for automatically passing said warping about the formed bunches to bind each bunch therebetween into a continuous web with preceding bunches.

' 12. In a machine of the class described, a stock feedway for the brush material, an

automatic feed for advancing said material along said feedway, an intern'iittently operating bunch forming mechanism eifect-ive at the delivery end of said feedway to separate the brush material into successive individual bunches, and comprising vertically reciprocable presser and slicer bars,

and a separator bar, the presser bar formed at its lower end to enclose mass of stock in said feedway for subsequent separation from the rest of the brush material in the feedway by the slicer bar and the separator bar cooperating with the presser and slicer bars to separate the formed bunch from the remainder of the brush materialin the feedway, means for supporting a stranded warping between which the formed bunches are adapted to be successively placed, means for automatically passing said warping about the butt ends of the formed knots to firmly'bind each bunch therebetween into a continuous web with preceding bunches, and a bunch pusher operating at the point of delivery of the bunch to the stranded warping for autoinatically ejecting the bound bunch from the machine, said pusher on its ejecting stroke feeding the stranded warping forwardly a distance sufficient to provide a binding length for the'next bunch.

13. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock fecdway within which the brush material is loosely laid transversely 7 thereof, a stock feeder for automatically advancing the'stock along said-feedway a bunch forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway for automatically separating from the stock therein successive inchvidual bunches, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between 'which the formed bunches areadapted to be loosely bound in a continuous web, a bunchpusher adapted to feed said strands one bunch binder length'at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunch-forming and bunchnism and cooperating with said bunch forming mechanism for successively placing the formed bunchessingly between said binding strands while uncrossed and in advance of said bunch-pusher, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

14. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, means for feeding said strands one bunchbinder length at each operation of the machine comprising a sliding and swinging bunch pusher loosely engaging said strands, a reciprocable slide to which said pusher is fulcrumed, a cam on the cam shaft and operative connections be tween said cam and slide for reciprocating said slide in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of said strands, and a second cam on said shaft and operative connections between said cam and said slide for swinging said slide back and forth in a direction corresponding to the direction of feed of the strands and in timed relation to the reciprocating movements of said slide, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the o icration of the bunch-forming mechanism, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

15. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, means for feeding said strands one bunch binder length at each operation of the machine comprising a sliding and swinging bunch pusher loosely ensaid strands, areciprocable slide to which said pusher is fulcrumed, a cam on the cam shaft and a cam lever and a bell crank lever connection between said camand slide for reciprocating said slide in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of said strands, and a second cam on said shaft the bunch-forming mechanism, a bunch gripper meehanism'for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

16. Ina machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, a bunch pusher for feeding said strands one bunch binder len th at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said I sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the buncl i-forming mechanism comprising two sets of oppositely disposed guides carrying said strands and slidable past each other in parallel planes transverse to the direction of feed the strands, the guide bars of each guide set being spaced apart to allow the binding strands to pass therebetween and be crossed, slides carrying said guides, and operative connections from the cam shaft to said slides for reciprocating said slides, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

17. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operatingacross said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, abunch pusher for feeding said strands one bunch binder length at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunch-forming mechanism comprising two sets of oppositely disposed guides carrying said strands and slidable past each otherin parallel planes transverse to the direction of feed of the strands, the guide bars of each guide set being spaced apart to allow the binding strands to pass therebetween and be crossed, slides Carrying said guides, a stud driven from the cam shaft at reduced speed. and having a cam therein, a connecting rod slotted at one end to slide relative to said stud and having a cam roll at either side of said cam, and a pair of bell crank levers connected to the opposite end of said connecting rod and 'to said slides for reciprocating said slides, a bunch gripper for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

18. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, a bunch pusher for feeding said strands one bunch binder length at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunclrforming mechanism, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed and comprising a gripper arm having gripper jaws at its free end and mounted for rocking motion towards and from said stock feedway in a path alined therewith and for sliding traversing movement towards and away from said binding strands in a direction transverse thereto, a'

cam on said cam shaft operatively connected with said gripper arm for rocking said arm, a second cam on said cam shaft operatlvely 7 connected with said gripper arm for sliding said arm laterally, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

19. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently op erating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, a bunch pusher for feeding said strands one bunch binder length at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunch-forming mechanism, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, agripper arm having gripper jaws at its free end and mounted for rocking motion towards and from said stock feedway in a path alined therewith and for sliding traversing movement towards and away from said binding strands in a direction transverse thereto, a sleeve mounted on said frame, a rock shaft in said sleeve and carrying said gripper arm, a cam on said cam shaft and a cam lever operated thereby and connected to said sleeve for rocking said gripper arm, a second cam on said cam shaft and a rocker lever operated thereby and connected with said rock shaft for sliding said gripper armlaterally, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closingsaidgripper according to the position thereofrelative to the bunch-forming mechanism.

20. In a machine of the class described, a frame having a stock feedway, a camshaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are ada-p ted to belooselybound, means for feeding said strands one bunch binder length at each operation of the machine, means for crossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunch-forming mechanism, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunches singly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to the bunch-forming mechanism comprising a slide, a pair of links pivoted thereto and operatively connected with said gripper jaws, a latch pivoted to said slide and having an extended tail, a cam on the cam shaft for moving said slide in one direction to thereby close the latch and hold the gripper jaws open, and a second cam on said cam shaft and a cam lever and a plunger for actuating the tail end of said latch to open said latch and close-the gripper aws.

21. In a machine of the class described, a

frame having a stock feedway, a cam shaft journaled in said frame, a stock feeder, a bunch-forming mechanism intermittently operating across said feedway, means for supporting two opposed sets of binding strands between which the formed bunches are adapted to be loosely bound, means for feeding said strands one bunch binder length ateach operation of the machine, means forcrossing and uncrossing said sets of strands in timed relation to the operation of the bunch-forming mechanism, a bunch gripper mechanism for successively placing the formed bunchessingly between said binding strands while uncrossed, and a latch mechanism for automatically opening and closing said gripper according to the position thereof relative to r the bunch-forming mechanism comprising a slide having a stud formed with a latching portion and beyond said latching portion constituting a fulcrum, a pair of links pivoted on said fulcrum and operatively connected with said gripper jaws, a latch pivoted to said slide and having an extended tail, a yoke operatively connected to said slide, a spring-tensioned actuating rod for said yoke, a doubleended actuating dog engaging said rod at one end, a cam on the cam shaft engaging the opposite end of said dog for raising said rod to thereby close the latch and hold the gripper jaws open, and a second cam on said cam shaft, and a cam lever and a plunger for acterial into individual bunches, and means for tuating the tail end of said latch to open said relatively moving the individual bunches of latch and close the gripper jaws. brush material and the binding strands to 10 22. In a machine of the class described, a weave the bunches into the binding strands to 5 feeder for a supply of brush material, means form a continuous Web.

for supporting a plurality of flexible binding In testimony whereof I afliX my signature. strands, means for separating the brush ma- GEORGE- C. CLEAVES. 

